The Evidence of Being Saved
While most traditional churches have an open disrespect for God’s Old Testament laws and say to run away from them – God is saying in order to please him, he wants us to embrace obedience to him as our first worship and first service unto him. When we first accept Jesus (Y’shua) as our Lord and Savior the first sign that we are actually “Saved” or “Born Again” is that we have faith in Jesus (Y’shua) and choose to trust in and obey God. The primary evidence that we are saved and that God’s Holy Spirit lives in us is not speaking in tongues, healing, or prophesying but is that we remain trusting of and obedient to God.
Acts 5:32: “…the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to them that obey him.”
Abraham’s life is widely considered the Model of Faith. God made a Covenant (contract) with Abraham. Abraham believed (put his trust or faith in) God and his Covenant. God accounted Abraham’s faith in him and his Covenant as righteousness, or right standing before him. THEN Abraham lived his daily life in obedience to God’s laws and commandments. THEN God blessed Abraham according to the promises outlined in the Covenant.
When we believe (trust or have faith) in Jesus (Y’shua) as our Lord and Savior, God counts it to us as righteousness, right standing before him. THEN we live our lives in obedience to God’s laws and commandments. THEN God blesses us in accordance with the New Covenant.
When you say “Faith” you mean “action” for faith without action is dead. The Apostle James once said: “faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone.” (James Chapter 2). In James 2:22 he said: “You see how faith works together with his actions, and by his actions was faith made perfect?”
In Titus 1:16, Paul states: “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being … disobedient, and unto every good work worthless.”
For our Faith to be alive it must be matched by our actions. Belief in Jesus (Y’shua) and God is not enough. Belief that Jesus (Y’shua) is the Son of God and the Messiah of Israel and that God raised him from the dead is not enough, for even Satan and the demons believe this, and tremble at that fact, and yet remain at war against God. The difference is they do not trust and obey God.
Faith Like a Child
Like a good father, our Heavenly Father is attempting to give us instructions (laws or rules) to help his children grow and prosper, to help us enter into the eternal New Covenant relationship with him, and to become everything that he dreams for us to be. This includes Rules or Laws that cover our relationship to him, to others, and for ourselves.
Children, when given an order, often like to ask “why? why? why?” – but parents often say, “do this because I said so.” Most children do not like that answer at all. What it boils down to is: “Do You Trust Me?” Do you really trust God with your life? If you really trust God, then you will do what God says first without insisting that you understand ‘why’ at that moment. This is the true measure of trust and faith in God. We often DO learn why, but only on the other side of obedience, after we do what we were told. And little may you know, it is obedience to God’s Laws that is his main teaching tool in helping us grow and in bringing us closer to him. This is why the name of this study is called “Trust and Obey.” As one of my favorite songs (hymn) goes: “Trust and Obey, for there is no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to Trust and Obey.”
Matthew 18:1-4:
(1) … the disciples came unto Jesus, saying, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’
(2) And Jesus called a little child to him, and set him in the middle of them,
(3) And said, ‘Truly I say unto you, Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
(4) Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’
and in Mark 10:15, Jesus (Y’shua) says: “Truly I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.”
Where Did We Go Wrong?
Jesus (Y’shua) paid our sin debt that we owe for our violations of the Old Testament Laws. The biggest and most damaging lie we have been sold over the centuries is that Jesus (Y’shua) also came to do away with the Old Testament Law, therefore we don’t have to obey it. This website will present significant Bible evidence to the contrary.
Since the beginning, in the Garden of Eden, Satan has been trying to convince us not to obey what God said. Satan stating, “Did God really say that!?”
Could it be the biggest lie we have bought into,
has become the main stumbling block
to the very thing that God wants us to do:
Obey God as he clearly commands in the
entire Bible (Old and New Testaments)?
From what God had made perfect, Satan lied to convince Adam and Eve to disobey God and that disobedience cursed all of mankind. Now our disobedience is once again cursing us.
Many in the traditional churches twist Scripture and teach not to obey God in the Old Testament.
One example is in Matthew 5:17, Jesus (Y’shua) says: “Think not that I am come to destroy[G2647] the law (Torah), or the prophets: I am not come to destroy[G2647], but to fulfill[G4137].” Fulfill does not mean it is done away with. Fulfill means that Jesus (Y’shua) brought perfect completeness and meaning to the law. Fulfill means to carry out.
Jesus’ (Y”shua) use of “fulfill” here is often twisted by traditional churches to mean the law (Torah) has been done away. ‘Fulfill’ uses Strong’s Ref. #G4137 and is the same word used in Matthew 3:13-15 (ESV): “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill[G4137] all righteousness.’ Then he consented.” And in John 3:29, Jesus (Y’shua) states: “…this my joy therefore is fulfilled[G4137].” Has Jesus (Y’shua) now done away with all joy and righteousness? Obviously not.
In Luke 24:44, after Jesus (Y’shua) was resurrected he explains what “fulfilled” means: “And he said unto them, These are the words which I spoke unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled[G4137], which were written in the law of Moses (Torah), and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.” Jesus (Y’shua) used the word “fulfil” to mean the carrying out the prophecies about himself. And again in Matthew 26:56, we see what Jesus (Y’shua) meant: “But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled[G4137].” Other examples, just in the book of Matthew, include Mat. 1:22; 2:15; 2:17; 2:23; 4:14; 8:17; 12:17; 13:14; 13:35; 21:4; 27:9; 27:35. In Romans 15:9, Paul uses the same Greek word to mean “I have fully preached[G4137]” in the King James.
Let’s Keep it Simple
The Bible is God’s Word? Yes!? So when you read the Bible and when you see “And the LORD said” or “Jesus said” and it is a command, and you see it in quotes or red lettering, then it is something that you cannot argue against but should obey as a matter of trust and faith. It’s pretty straight forward. Right!? So do you follow God or men? Do not to be confused or swayed by the arguments of men that we don’t have to obey what God says. It is very simple, if we love God then we should want obey him because we want to please him!
I’ve often said it’s not hard to figure out. Interesting enough, this is so simple a child can do it. In fact, God made it so simple and easy to understand because he wanted everyone to be in right relationship with him, even little children. It is so straight forward and so clear to understand that there is no need to get bogged down in theological and doctrinal issues or debates.
Plainly put: Did God or Jesus (Y’shua) command it? Then I should obey. This is the required foundation to the walk for all followers of Jesus (Y’shua): To Trust and Obey God.
Living the Ultimate Blessed Life in Unity with God
In this website I seek to show, that to be in right relationship with God we must seek to obey God’s laws throughout the entire Bible. That to continue to live with an attitude that we do not have to obey God in the Old Testament Law has made us rebellious children, turning our back on him, resulting in us breaking fellowship with God. God says he wants to bless us BUT our “sins have withheld good things from you.” (Jeremiah 5:25). He also says he will not listen to the prayers of rebels, but will harshly discipline us.
1 Samuel 12:15: “If you will not obey the voice of the LORD י ה ו ה, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD י ה ו ה, then shall the hand of the LORD י ה ו ה be against you …”
Proverbs 28:9: “He that turns away his ear from hearing the law (Torah), even his prayer shall be an abomination.”
In James 2:24, James says: “… by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”
Deuteronomy 11:26-28: “Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD י ה ו ה your God … And a curse, if you will not obey”
But you might say that I don’t obey the Old Testament laws and God has blessed me. I don’t doubt that, but just imagine if you start truly walking in full obedience to him and stopped being a rebellious child – what greater blessings are to come. For as a true Father would, if you do what he says and continue doing so – a father will freely pour out his love, blessings, and favor upon you – and your relationship with him will be rich and fulfilling. A true loving father knows not to reward rebellious children, but disciplines them because he wants to bring them back into a right relationship with him.
So if you truly love God and wish to please him you will obey his laws. God’s laws are not meant to hurt you but to grow, prosper, and bless you and to keep you from harm. As John stated in 1 John 5:3 from the New Testament:
“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments (from the Old Testament): and his commandments are not grievous (burdensome).”
God Said It. I Believe It.
There is a saying, “God said it. I believe it. That settles it.” Basically, if God said it in the Bible then there is no room for debate or argument about the issue.
Sometimes I use another teaching tool by asking Christians their opinion on a topic that I know God has already spoken on. Most people really love to express their opinions. Some can go on and on about a topic. After I hear them out a bit then abruptly interrupt, “Well, your opinion doesn’t matter!” That often shocks them like I’m being rude, but at that point, I definitely have their attention. I pause for a moment and allow them to give me that dirty look of disgust, then I deliver the point of the teaching. I say, “Well, My opinion doesn’t matter either! It’s only God’s opinion that matters! If God has already spoken on this topic in the Bible, then it is only his opinion that matters. Correct!?” – I ask. They often pause, think for a moment, and then agree, disagree, or I leave them thinking. But they all get the point.
If everyone really listened to God and obeyed what he said in the Bible then the world would be much better off. Unfortunately, many teachings in the traditional churches have arisen over the centuries which twist and distort the Bible misleading many with a dangerous and unscriptural reason not to obey God. In doing so we have broken fellowship with God and become rebels at war with him.
Foundational Thinking
Peter and the other apostles answered the High Priest of Israel saying:
“We must obey God rather than men.”
Acts 5:29
Another saying: “The Main Thing is to Keep the Main Thing, the Main Thing.” In other words: “Stay Grounded on What God Says!” Only in God is there real safety, permanence, peace, salvation, and the abundant life. Remember, it is only God who gives Salvation, not men, leaders, churches, or religion. The only way to keep on track with God is to hold fast to what he says in the Bible, which is the only solid foundation. Alternative sources can easily be unreliable and corrupt. The easiest way is to Trust and Obey your Heavenly Father. If you rely upon God as your primary source for all truth and knowledge you will not be disappointed.
The key to God’s Kingdom is having and maintaining that child-like view and faith. You could most likely hear hundreds of differing opinions and “alternative” views and interpretations on things. Many being angry voices against obeying God in the Old Testament. Others are more seductive and intellectual saying let’s consider other views. You must never allow yourself to get distracted from what God specifically says in the Bible.
In Matthew 15:13, Jesus (Y’shua) said: “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up.”
Just as our body is corrupted by sin, so is our thinking. The only reliable source is God as he has communicated himself through the Bible and through his Holy Spirit, both never contradicting the other. Also, exploring sources outside of God can easily waste a lot of time. So, do not get distracted! Stay Focused on What God Says!
Connecting You to God
You might have heard the saying: “Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for life.” The purpose of every real minister of God should be to get people directly connected to God as their primary source since God can provide all your needs himself. Remember, God gave us his Holy Spirit as our personal teacher, to instruct us in all things. God’s Holy Spirit and the Bible is all we need. God does brings brothers and sisters in the faith to us to encourage us, but God alone remains our only source for truth.
Every follower of Jesus (Y’shua) should share about this great and wonderful relationship we have and should encourage others in the faith – this is what God’s family is about. God’s ministry is much bigger than any man, church, or denomination. This is why God is the only one who can be our source and the only one we can be dependent upon.
So I will continue to speak towards making you aware that you can communicate directly with God and have God teach you directly. This is too big for any person, group, or organization – so get connected to the source: God.
As you read this website I hope that you will discover God’s truth because, when presented correctly, it will be obvious, clear, shine bright and confirm itself by God’s Spirit in you.
